Archives

Sip

Elsie Green Winner + Watermelon Ginger Splash

September 12, 2014

IMG_4437

Last week I was so excited to share the amazing store – Elsie Green with you all… and now I am ecstatic to share the winner! A BIG congrats to AMELIA BONSEY!

IMG_4407

Yet again, I had to break out more Elsie Green goodies in today’s post – and couldn’t get over these adorable cafe glasses.  They are so perfect for a little pre-dinner sip.  In honor of their cute size, I named this cocktail the “Splash”… but once you try it, you may be wanting a pool of this stuff…

IMG_4360

Watermelon Ginger Splash

  • 0.5 oz Mint/Ginger Simple Syrup (boil 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 water, then steep a handful of sliced ginger/mint leaves for 5-10 minutes)
  • Sliced Strawberries
  • Mint Leaves
  • 1.5 oz vodka
  • Watermelon juice (you can buy this fresh from farmer’s markets or make your own by pureeing fresh watermelon chunks with a little water)
  1. Muddle a few strawberry slices and a couple mint leaves in the bottom of your glass.
  2. Add vodka, simple syrup and stir.
  3. Top with ice and fill rest of glass with fresh watermelon juice.

IMG_4350

IMG_4367

IMG_4375

IMG_4380

IMG_4400

Cafe Glasses / Carafe – For more goodies… check out here!

IMG_4424

Tasty

How to Cut an Onion

September 11, 2014

IMG_4812

I hate cutting onions.  I’ve tried everything – put it in the freezer, wear googles, using the Slap Chop… but I honestly will avoid certain recipes if I have to dice an onion.  Luckily since my college roomie taught me how to easily chop an onion (thanks Erin!), I really don’t have any more excuses… but if you want to be sous chef – I definitely won’t turn you away.

IMG_4839

Here is how I chop an onion…

Step 1. Cut off the roots/both ends of the onion

IMG_4819

Step 2. Remove the skin

Step 3. Cut the onion in half (be sure to cut in the same direction of the lines on the onion)

IMG_4824

Step 4. Lay the onion cut side down and slice top to bottom stopping 1/4 inch of so from the bottom (you don’t want to cut all the way through)

IMG_4828

IMG_4830

Step 5. Rotate the onion 90 degrees and slice completely through from top to bottom

IMG_4833

Step 6. You should be left with little squares (a few little chops here and there can help to break apart any pieces that snuck their way through any chopping.)

IMG_4837

Voila!

For “How to Slice a Watermelon” click here!

Today is the last day to enter the Elsie Green Giveaway!!! Tell me what item(s) you like best from the Elsie Green website by leaving a comment on THIS post! Make sure to follow up with the Rafflecopter widget below 🙂 Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tasty

Breakfast Tacos

September 10, 2014

IMG_4705

You know when you discover something and can’t wrap your mind around how you ever lived without it?!  For me, that thing is breakfast tacos.

IMG_4647

I’ve mastered all things Mexican food and have fully embraced them in my morning routine – breakfast burritos, Huevos Rancheros, Jalisco Scrambles … and now I am excited to share my newest breakfast kick – breakfast tacos.

IMG_4678

So simple, so delicious and SO EASY.  All you really need is tortillas and you can get as creative as you wish… here is what we whipped up for brunch this weekend:

IMG_4656

Breakfast Tacos

  • tortillas
  • eggs
  • bacon (could use ham or sausage)
  • shredded cheddar cheese (could use cotija as well)
  • avocado
  • tomatoes, diced (or pico de gallo)
  • black beans (or pinto)
  • cilantro
  • other:
    • potatoes
    • onion, diced
  1. Pan fry bacon in a skillet (I used my cast iron pan) on medium low heat for about 4 minutes per side (keep an eye on them).
  2. Let bacon cool on paper towels and reserve bacon fat.  Cut or crumble into bite sized pieces.
  3. Whisk eggs in a dish (for 2 people I used 6 eggs) and add salt/pepper.
  4. Scramble eggs over low heat in 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and stir in beans to warm up last 2 minutes or so.
  5. Heat up tortillas in microwave for 30 seconds (wrap in wet paper towel).
  6. Top with assorted toppings (cheese, eggs/beans, bacon,  avocado, tomatoes, cilantro) and drizzle with hot sauce of your choice (I’m addicted to the green Tabasco).

IMG_4693

*If you like potatoes and onion I highly recommend baking or sautéing them with the bacon fat as well.

IMG_4715

**I think my favorite thing from Whole Foods is their breakfast meat. Their in-house maple sausage and applewood bacon are AMAZING (and totally worth the splurge).

IMG_4707

The end is near… be sure to enter the Elsie Green Giveaway!!! Just explore the Elsie Green website and see what item(s) you like best and leave a comment on THIS post letting me know which thing(s)! Make sure to follow up with the Rafflecopter widget below 🙂 Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looks

Fall Wish List

September 9, 2014

Shopping-Bags-Street-Style

image via Lauren Messiah

When the seasons start to change I immediately get a little shopping crazy… sorry J!  Everything looks so new and shiny and I immediately can envision everything in my closet.  “I’ll channel my inner rocker! I’ll be a little bit more boho this year!” As I get older I’ve been investing in some nicer, classic pieces that have a little more staying power than my college-Forever 21 budgeted self, but I’ve now adopted a new budgeting strategy to help me curb my shopping habit.  What is that you ask?  Each season I keep a note on my phone of pieces that I “need” (my husband would say want – whatever).  It helps to keep track of what I “should” be buying,   reminds me of what I need to be keeping an eye out for and helps me to put down those magenta heels that I don’t really need.

What’s on my list for this season? Well here we go…

1c7a153aabfc3df50102953f53827400

via Could I Have That?

Leather Pants (still looking)

I had a cheapo pair in college that I wore into the ground, but I’ve had these on my list for the past 3 years, and need to bite the bullet soon on a nice pair… but oh vay, they aren’t cheap!  Does anyone have an suggestions/recommendations!?

 

2eaf1bc690a0ce4fec2b7b7c8062abfa

image via McKenna Bleu

Flannel (bought on Gilt) 

I described my style this season as Kimye meets Sons of Anarchy meets J.Crew.  My husband told me to stick with the J.Crew, but it’s fun to go out of our box sometimes right?!  A flannel/plaid button up is going to be my (inexpensive) way of soothing my desire to add some edge to my look.  Plus everyone was wearing them at Outside Lands and I felt really left out…

 

dcd9923d6f37c400f3c808872b969443

via Gold & Grey Blog

Light Pink Sweater (bought at Nordstroms) 

I have decided that light pink is going to be my color this season (you know to go with all of that leather and flannel).  Most of you must be thinking I’ve lost my mind at this point… but I love fashion for this very reason.  You can be this one day, and this the next!

 

412b16b556f6642fd8b2d82e9c34c084

Brown Booties (still need)

I’ve been anti-bootie for so long and final purchased my first black pair last year and lived in them… now onto investing in some brown ones.  Sadly I seem to have expensive taste (le sigh), and really struggle with deciding on if certain styles are trendy or not… definitely thinking about waiting on these bad boys to go on sale- thoughts?

 

e6420f41cca5fa7a93ab21f5a7cdb2d0

White Button Up (bought at Banana Republic)

I have very broad shoulders and swap from anything that feels to constricting (I don’t want to have a Hulk moment!), but I cannot look at another person in a a crisp button up and think – why am I not wearing that!? So I made the jump and bought this bad boy.  I think the piping makes it versatile – both edgy and classic! And will pair really nicely with my pink sweater and leather pants… right?!

 

Whats on your list for Fall 2014?

 

PS Make sure to enter the Elsie Green Giveaway!!! All you have to do is check out the Elsie Green website and see what item(s) you like best and leave a comment on THIS post letting me know which thing(s)! Make sure to follow up with the Rafflecopter widget below 🙂 Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tasty

Presto Pesto!

September 8, 2014

IMG_4794

In college one of the only tolerable foods in the cafeteria was pesto pasta.  Therefore I overdid it a bit and haven’t really touched it  since.  I figured 7 years was a good enough time to give it a try again and I’m happy to say I’m fully on the pesto bandwagon again (hopefully sans the Freshman 15 this time around).

IMG_4777

My mom’s garden had an abundance of basil, so a collected as much as I could and got to work! Pesto is so amazing because it’s so easy to make, freezes really well and tastes SO GOOD.  My Sundays lately have been devoted to making seasonal food for this winter (tomato sauce, tomato soup, frozen fresh fruit) and figured why not add pesto to the list? It easily sells for $7+ for a small bottle, and ingredients are relatively cheap and easy to come across… so grab your blender, Tupperwares and get to work!

IMG_4799

Basil Pesto 

  • 4 cups packed basil leaves
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 1 1/3 cup olive oil
  • salt/pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese
  1. Combine basil, pine nuts and basil in a blender or food processor (depending on how good your blender is, you may want to mince garlic first and pulse with nuts, then add basil).
  2. Slowly drizzle in 1 cup olive oil until full combined.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. If using immediately mix in remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and cheese and enjoy!
  5. If freezing, transfer to a Tupperware and cover with remaining oil. When ready to enjoy thaw and stir in cheese.

IMG_4770

IMG_4781

IMG_4786

IMG_4788

IMG_4801

*This recipe is great to use half now and freeze half for later.  I highly recommend using scotch tape and a Sharpie to mark what it is in the Tupperware plus any directions you’ll need when consuming (ex: Pesto: Add in 1/2 cup Pecorino Cheese – 9/7/14).  Also don’t forget the date!

IMG_4808

 

Looking for some yummy ways to use pesto? Check out some ideas below:

  • Mix into hummus for a fun twist!
  • Add chopped veggies (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, etc.) to pesto pasta
  • Brush rustic bread with pesto and top with provolone or white cheddar for a gourmet grilled cheese!
  • Use lemon juice and pesto as a marinade for chicken
  • Top your morning eggs with a dollop of pesto and roasted tomatoes
  • Replace pizza sauce with pesto (top with pancetta and mozzarella)

 

Make sure to enter the Elsie Green Giveaway!!! All you have to do is check out the Elsie Green website and see what item(s) you like best and leave a comment on THIS post letting me know which thing(s)!  Make sure to follow up with the Rafflecopter widget below 🙂 Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway